Red Admiral atalanta 15 eggs/10 larvae

This is not a species for a beginner. Eggs are so small that a lens is needed to see them. If sent as larvae, they are usually tiny, before they start making leaf-tents. This is no problem for an experienced breeder, but is not as easy to look after as larvae that arrive at a visible size or as a cluster.

The larvae are solitary and make a nettle leaf into a tent. Inside the leaf tent the larva develops quickly in warm weather, sometimes moving to a bigger tent.The final shelter is where the larva hangs up and pupates. The butterflies will emerge this year.If you can keep them on growing foodplant, either potted or sleeved outside, this is the best way to accommodate their need for fresh food as a shelter.

Larvae are too small to be put into a cage or aquarium. They are best reared on growing foodplant, enclosed in a sleeve.